Euro Disney

We went to Disney Land Paris on Sunday. It's about a 35 minute train ride to the park. We bought year long passes so we can go back several more times while we're here. The park is very similar to the Florida park, it's just a much smaller version. We only rode a couple of the rides... the lines were super long. The day we went was one of the first really nice weekend days we've had this season, so EVERYBODY had the same idea we did. Carson was really excited to meet the characters. He's been obsessed with Toy Story since December. He got to meet Woody and Jessie!!! He also loved riding the Buzz Lightyear ride. We had a great day but were all very worn out by the end. Family fun sure takes it out of you! Next time we head out there we're going to check out the other park they have next to the main park. It's called Walt Disney Studios and has all the big rides for Daddy!





On the Buzz ride with Mommy.




Happiest kid at Disneyland!




Daddy and Carson waiting to ride the rockets.




Daddy and Carson meeting Woodie and Jessie!




Goofy and Pluto!




It's hard to wait in line!




There they are!



Mickey and Minnie!!!

Date Night!

Anniversary night!!!

Le Chalet des Iles.

Sunday April 5th was Ryan and my 6 year anniversary. On the 4th we had our babysitter come over to watch Carson so we could go out for the evening to celebrate. We made reservations at a restaurant that I had read was fun and romantic. It definitely was both! This restaurant is located in the Bois De Boulogne the largest park in Paris. It sits on the center of an island in the middle of a beautiful lake. The only way to get to the restaurant is to take a boat over. The inside of the restaurant was beautiful with chandeliers and large windows that overlooked the water. They had a piano player who played lots of recognizable music. He played the Beatles, some current music and even Stairway To Heaven! Our meal was wonderful and our waiter was funny. This was the best meal I've had in Paris and hope to get to come back again sometime soon! It was a wonderful night with my amazing husband. It's been 6 years of marriage and couldn't be happier. It's been an adventure so far and I can't wait to see what's in store for us down the road!

Nana and Papa come to Paris!

My Mom and Dad came to visit for two weeks at the beginning of March. We had a great time with them. We tried to cram in as much of Paris as we could during their visit. We saw lots of the major sites and hit up lots of museums! Here are some pictures of their visit!

At Versaille

Sacre Couer

Fred in front of The Thinker and Pam at the Louvre

Waiting for the train to take us to the Garden.

Taking a boat tour.

Mom and I at the Musee D'Orsay.

Nana and Papa visited Carson's school!


Mom, Dad and the tower and a picture at the Luxemburg Gardens.

Back to blogging...

I have not done a good job of updating the blog lately, so I'll try to catch everyone up on what we've been doing...

The weather has been nicer and we've had a few days in the 50's with sun! We've gotten out and enjoyed some of the many parks Paris has to offer. A few weeks back to hit the Jardin des Tuileries. They have a play area, trampoline pits, a carousel and pony rides. Carson LOVED this park. He loved it so much he threw a major fit when we left... Here are a few pictures before the melt down...

The trampolines... lots of fun!

Carson is going to school 4 days a week for 3 hours a day. He loves school and asks me everyday..."School today Momma? I go and play with my friends....you stay home." My child is one of the only children in his class that doesn't cry when their Mother leaves, Carson can't wait for me to leave so he can start his day. When I pick him up they open the classroom door and all of the children run out. Every child runs to their Mom and is excited to see them. Not my son...he takes one look at me and says "NO! I want to play! You go home Momma!" Warms my heart... I guess I should be thankful that he likes school so much and isn't nervous one bit to be away from me!

One last thing...

Ryan was offered a different position in his office here, a promotion. The catch with the position was that we had to commit to being in France for 3 years. We look time to think it over, but in the end we decided to pass on the opportunity. Ryan was very flattered that his name came up for this position, but 3 years is a long time. We will be ready to get back to our life in Kansas City come December. So we are still on track to be home before Christmas this year!

Ok, so that's been February... March has started with a visit from my parents. They got here yesterday and will be here till the 19th. Carson was very excited to see Nana and Papa! Today he is going to take them to his school to show them his classroom. Then we're going to hit the Musee d'Orsay... Pictures to follow!

Just some pictures.

Though I'd add some pictures we've taken over the past month. Nothing exciting, just hanging out at home pictures.

Doing some work together!

Something blue?

Never leave an ink pen within reach...

NEVER!!!

Carson's First Day Of School!

Carson was ready to go to school!

Today was Carson's first day at his new bilingual pre-school. The classroom is mixed with children who speak French and English. He has two teachers, one who only speaks English and the other only speaks French. So, some of the activities and circles will be in English and the rest are in French. He was so excited to start, he's been talking about it for weeks. We'd visited the school before our trip home and he remembered playing on their slide. He was so excited that he decided not to sleep last night. We put him to bed at 9pm and he was up again at 11pm. I had the pleasure of entertaining him till 3:30am when he finally decided to hit the hay. Gotta love jet lag... He woke up this morning bright eyed and bushy tailed, ready to go to school! When we got to his classroom the teachers explained that they didn't want to overwhelm Carson on his first day in his new classroom. They gave me the option to stay in the classroom to make him feel comfortable. I laughed on the inside. Any of you who have met Carson knows that he is not shy nor is he timid. I have dropped him off at plenty of unfamiliar places and sometimes I don't even get a goodbye! I explained to the teachers that I didn't think he would have a problem and that I'd tell him goodbye and if he got upset then I'd stay.

Conversation:
Me: "Carson Mommy is going to go now." Carson: "You gonna ride the train?"

Me: "No, not yet. I'm going to wait for you to ride the train with me. I'm just going to go on a walk." Carson: "OK Momma...bye! Go home now, I slide."

That was that. The teachers asked me to come back in one hour to take him home. He was only going to stay one hour out of the three....again so he would not feel overwhelmed. I guess it's their process to acclimate a child to a new situation but definitely is not needed for my child. When I came back after an hour he was busy playing and they told me he had done great and was a very happy child (French code for loud). When I told him we needed to go he began to cry. Thinking they would tell me he could stay because A. he was not overwhelmed and B. he was upset at the fact that he had to leave and the other kids got the stay. That didn't happen though, they still wanted him only to stay for an hour. *sigh* Thursday he gets to stay 2 hours and Friday will be his first full day. He will go to school Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 1-4. I'm so happy that he gets to get out of the apartment and play with other children. I'm also happy for myself to get to do some exploring and take in a museum or two on my own!

Back To The Real World...

Much to my surprise and delight we got to come home and visit our friends and family last week!!! Ryan came home one night and told me he was being sent to KC on a business trip. Before I burst into tears he explained that Carson and I could tag along. I needed this trip home. Things here have not been running smoothly and I've had a serious case of cabin fever. It's been the coldest temperatures here in Paris that it has been in 4 years. Of course... Ryan works late hours and Carson and I have been stuck inside this tiny apartment for days at a time all alone. I went 2 1/2 weeks without seeing one peek of the sun. The doorbell/intercom has been broken since the day we moved in and despite an attempt by a repair man, it is still not fixed. The washer does not work 100%, it only runs one cycle and then 3 days before I was to go home the dryer quit drying clothes! I NEEDED TO COME HOME!!! We came to France at a rough time. December, January and February are the coldest rainiest darkest months in France. I don't think I would have had such a tough time adjusting if we'd come in April when it's warm and you can get out and explore. After two months of lonely darkness I needed to be back home where things were easy and familiar! The minute I hit American soil I got a Dr. Pepper and a People magazine and instantly felt at ease. Everyone spoke English and I saw more smiling than I've seen in months! It was good to be home!!!

We spent lots of time with family and friends on our trip! It was beyond great to be home and it sent me back to France feeling relaxed and refreshed! Thanks again to everyone who made time to see us, we can't say thank you enough! Now it's back to the real world. Back to Paris living!